Not Even Close (A New Generation) by Elizabeth Reyes (books to read in a lifetime txt) 📗

laughed, mostly out of apprehension. Hereached out and took the bracelet examining it closely then read theengravement out loud. “Be still my heart.” He glanced up at her, his earlierhardened expression now replaced with a smile. “Is that a date?” Vannah nodded,praying he wouldn’t think her nuts. “Of when we met? Frat Row Friday?”

Feeling her heart speed up, she shook her head. “No. Of that dayI first laid eyes on you. The day I witnessed that smile for the first time everand that phrase was the first thing that came to mind.”

When his eyes furrowed in question, she decided to just say it.Xochitl had agreed that even though technically she hadn’t formally met himuntil weeks later, that moment had been significant.

“The day of the signing at the gym.” His eyes went wide, and shebraced herself before adding in a near whisper. “I don’t think I’ll ever forgetit.”

Taking a step forward he cupped her face smiling sweetly. “Savannah,I know I’ll never forget that day either.”

He kissed her softly before pulling away to gaze at her, even asthe emotion begun to outweigh the enormous relief that he hadn’t thought thistoo much, too soon. Waiting just long enough for her to help get the braceleton and declare it looked perfect on him, he scooped her into his arms. Withinminutes they were back in his bed, ready for round two of an entire day of lovemaking.

Twenty-Two

Surprise

Byron

The two-hour drive to La Jolla was as pleasant as couldbe expected. There was no shortage of cheery conversation, laughter and Byron’slips on Savannah’s hand and lips every chance he got. At his request, shefilled him in on as much as he needed to know to better prepare him to meet therest of her family. They’d be arriving before check-in at their hotel, so theywere going straight to her grandparents’ home where she said everyone wasgathering for a barbeque brunch.

“Their anniversary is actually today,” she explained. “Buteveryone was in agreement the big party should take place on a Saturday whenmost had the day off from work and school. My younger cousins and brothersstill have school today. Except a lot of the family members from out of townare arriving today. It’s why my grandparents decided to have a little somethingover their place.”

The growing knot in Byron’s gut had gradually tightened thecloser they got there. By the time they arrived he was wiping his clammy handsagainst his pants. He knew he’d be doing a lot of hand shaking and he didn’twant to embarrass himself. Sienna ran out to meet them with a screech as theygot out of the car. The two sisters hugged like they hadn’t seen each other in years.Then laughed at their own silliness.

“Hi, Byron,” Sienna said in a teasing tone. “You’re just apart of the family now, aren’t you?”

Savannah nudged her sister before he could respond to that.“Stop, he’s nervous enough.” She held out her hand for Byron who wiped his handagainst his pants again before taking her hand in his. “Anybody here yet?”

“Well, this is the . . .” Sienna lifted her hands and did airquotes. “Smaller of the two gatherings this weekend.” She rolled hereyes and laughed. “But it’s basically all of daddy’s family. So, you canimagine how small it is. Everyone except for the cousins still in schoolare here. Oh, and . . .” Sienna paused glancing at Byron then gave Savannah astrange look. “Chavita’s here. He doesn’t have classes on Friday.”

“Oh, good I haven’t seen him in forever.” Savannah glanced back atByron with a smile as they entered the big house. “He’s my smarty pants cousin.He should still be in high school, but he skipped a grade, then finished highschool early.”

“All the others are still in school.” Sienna’s eyes met Byron’sagain with that odd look before glancing away. “But Chavita brought friends.”

They walked into the front room where the endless introductionscommenced. First her grandparents who sat in the front room with her parentsand a couple of other older relatives who’d come in from Mexico for theoccasion. Aside from a few lighthearted jabs from her grandfather warning Byronnot to make him come after him, it was fairly painless. Though the tellinglooks the teddy bear gave Byron as her grandfather issued saidwarnings, weren’t missed.

“Foods out back,” her grandmother said. “And you know thisfamily, there’s plenty so go help yourselves.”

They continued through the house and he met the first of heruncles as they walked through the kitchen. He was getting a salad bowl out ofthe fridge. “Hi, uncle Angel.”

“Hey, sweetheart.”

Savannah let go of Byron’s hand to hug and kiss her uncle. Byronalready knew he was the younger of her dad’s brothers. The man was a slightlysmaller version of her dad who turned and gave Byron an equally uncompromising onceover when he was done greeting his niece.

“This is Byron.” Savannah touched Byron’s bicep as her uncle blatantlycontinued looking him over. “This is my uncle Angel. One of Daddy’s brothers.”

 As her uncle put the salad down on the kitchen’s center island,Byron reached his hand out to him, her uncle took it and gave it a firm shake.“Nice to me you, sir.”

“Good to meet you, too.” He turned to Savannah then back to faceByron. “Your dad tells me you two haven’t known each other too long.”

Clearing his throat, Byron nodded and answered before Savannahcould. “Over a month now.”

Nodding, her uncle glanced down as Savannah slipped her hand backinto Byron’s. It was the first time since he’d met her that Byron actually wishedshe’d keep her hands to herself. At least while in the presence of her menacinguncles.

Uncle Angel eyed him. “You staying out here for the weekend?”

Byron nodded again. “Yeah, I got a room.” Squeezing Savannah’shand, Byron swallowed hard and prayed she wouldn’t clarify further.

There were a few more inquiries about where he was stayingand when he was headed there until mercifully Savannah’s Aunt Sofiawalked into the kitchen. Savannah did the introductions again and fortunatelyher aunt was far less inquiring than her brother. In fact, she seemed to sensethe slight tension in the room and shoved the man